Statoil sells non-operated interest in Alba field, offshore UK

STAVANGER -- Statoil has agreed to sell its 17% non-operated interest in the Alba oil field on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) to Verus Petroleum.

Alba is an oil field in the UK Central North Sea that Statoil entered in 1995 and which is operated by Chevron. To date, it has produced around 420 MMbbl of oil. Statoil’s equity production in 2017 was around 2,300 bpd.

“With this transaction we focus on core activities in line with our high value, low carbon strategy. We are committed to a broad energy portfolio in the UK, with offshore oil & gas and offshore wind projects, an active exploration program on the UKCS, and secure supplies of natural gas”, says Hedda Felin, Statoil’s senior V.P. for UK & Ireland offshore activities.

As part of the agreement, Statoil will retain its share of the decommissioning liabilities for the existing field infrastructure while Verus Petroleum will assume decommissioning liabilities for any new infrastructure.

The effective date of the transaction is Jan. 1, 2018. Closing is subject to partner and regulatory approval.